THE SPIRITUAL ORDER FOR IMPACT

Where there is no order there is bound to be chaos! God is a God of order, the Bible tells us.

There is a spiritual order to experiencing the power of God and making an impact in our world. Without following this order we disqualify ourselves for the manifestation of this power. When Elijah was to call down the fire of God in 1 Kings 18:31-34, he told the people arranging the altar to set the 'wood in order.'

‘And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood’

And as soon as that order was that order was achieved the fire of God fell.

‘36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench’

There is a spiritual order that is required for the power of God and spiritual impacts.

When the ark of God which represents the power of God and the move of God was to be brought in to Israel, the Levite's failed, God kicked against the people, and the reason for this failure was offered: 'For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the DUE ORDER.'( 1 Chronicles 15:13). When spiritual orders are not followed there is a spiritual breach and whosoever breaks the edge is vulnerable to be bitten by the serpent according to the preacher in Ecclesiastes.

Before the power came in Acts 2 Jesus told them in Luke 24:49 to tarry and for days the apostles tarried in prayers (Acts 1:14-15) and then the power fell! Prayer has always preceded the power of God! Even in Jesus life, this was also true (Luke 4:1-2, 14, 18)! It has always been the spiritual order for impact.

In ministering to a growing church the apostles faced distraction but they quickly appointed men to deal with it and in Acts 6:4 they made a statement that shows the order for spiritual impact as a minister: 'we will give ourselves continually to the ministry of PRAYER and of the WORD'. It’s no accident that prayer came before the word. They had seen this in Jesus life who will wake up and pray before departing to preach the word to the world(Mark 1:35-39)!

‘35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils’

Effective ministry of the word begins on our knees where we pray the fire of God over our spirit and then over the souls of men. Without prayer, the ministry of the word is lifeless and without impact!

Immediately the Apostles resolved to follow this spiritual order the impact was visible to the world:

First, the laymen appointed to serve tables, Stephen, Phillip et al all became empowered. A praying church will always produce powerful Christians.

The church multiplied

The old order, representing the priests, became obedient to the new order.

The impact of the church soon spread beyond Jerusalem as the church moved to Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth!

This were all recorded in Acts 6:4-9 and also Acts 8 if you read further down.

‘4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.’

Power is the natural result of a lifestyle devoted to prayers! As you lingered in his presence you are empowered for exploits. And wherever you appear in your community, marketplace, the world takes notice of you that you have been with Jesus! In the days we are coming into the church of Jesus is coming back to that place of undeniable power and authority where from her midst will be raised saviors that will judge the mount of Esau and expand the kingdom of our God.

THE PRAYERS OF PAUL

PAUL'S HABIT OF PRAYER

PETER ADESHINA BABALOLA(PAB) is a lover of God and a teacher of His word. His 20 years in ministry has seen him served as a pastor in major ministries in Nigeria where he planted and pastored many churches across the nation.
From Port Harcourt to Uyo to Akure to Lagos, PAB has been privileged to affect lives through the preaching and teaching of the word.
An insightful teacher and writer, PAB writes for blogs and magazines across the nation as well teaching the word across the length and breadth of the land and beyond.
Reach PAB by mail: pab@powertalk.com.ng 08087872077 facebook.com/peter adeshina babalola. twitter/pabspeaks